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NOTES ON "AMERICA."

P. 142, 1. 7.

Meanwhile activity on restless wing.

"Sans cette fièvre de travail, sans cette tension perpétuelle de l'esprit vers les entreprises utiles et les spéculations, sans cette indifférence pour les plaisirs, sans ces idées politiques et religieuses qui répriment impérieusement toutes les passions dont le but n'est pas de travailler, de produire, de gagner, croit-on que les Américains eussent accompli leurs prouesses industrielles? Avec un autre système moins exclusif pour la production, ils en seraient peut-être encore à projeter de franchir les Alleghanys."—Lettres sur l'Amérique du Nord, par CHEVALIER, tome i. p. 349, duod. ed.

P. 143, 1. 10.

When all particular interests are bound.

“La politique étrangère de la démocratie américaine est profondement égoïste, c'est que l'ambition nationale est le propre des nations qui grandissent."-CHEVALIER, tome ii. p. 412.

"L'habitant s'attache à chacun des intérêts de son pays comme aux siens mêmes. Il se glorifie de la gloire de la nation : dans les succès qu'elle obtient, il croit reconnaître son propre ouvrage et il s'en élève ; il se réjouit de la prospérité générale dont il profite. Il a pour sa patrie un sentiment analogue à celui qu'on éprouve pour sa famille ; et c'est encore par une sorte d'egoïsme qu'il s'intéresse à l'état."De la Démocratie en Amérique, par ALEXIS DE TOCQUEVILLE, tome i. p. 158.

P. 144, 1. 1.

It is the home-religion's gentle sway.

"La liberté voit dans la religion la compagne de ses luttes et de ses triomphes; le berceau de son enfance, la source divine de ses droits. Elle considère la religion comme la sauve-garde des mœurs; les mœurs comme la garantie des lois, et le gage de sa propre durée."-De la Démocratie en Amérique par ALEXIS DE TOCQUEVILLE, tome i. p. 71.

P. 145, 1. 10.

Affections, language, principles, the same.

"Il y a un fait qui facilite admirablement aux Etats Unis l'existence du gouvernement fédéral. Les différens états ont non-seulement les mêmes intérêts, à-peu-près la même origine et la même langue, mais encore le même degré de la civilisation; ce qui rend presque toujours l'accord entre eux une chose facile."-De la Démocratie en Amérique, par ALEXIS DE TOCQUEVILLE, tome i. p. 286.

"Citizens by birth or choice of a common country, that country has a right to concentrate your affections. The name of American, which belongs to you in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of patriotism more than any appellation derived from local discriminations. With slight shades of difference, you have the same religion, manners, habits, and political principles."-Farewell Address of WASHINGTON to the People of the United States, 1796.

P. 148, 1. 12.

"Faith from a vain logomachy protects."

"But this is that close kept palladium,
Which once removed brings ruin evermore:
This stirr'd, makes men foresettled, to become
Curious to know what was believ'd before:
Whilst faith disputes that used to be dumb;
And more men strive to talk, than to adore."

DANIEL.

THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.

I.

Now is the spirit from on high pour'd forth

On man; and where the dragons lay encaved Fresh streams of water flow: now triumphs Worth,

By purple tyranny no more enslaved,

That through the world too long uncheck'd has raved. Knowledge her blessings spreads from clime to clime,

Peace smiles where late war's crimson banners waved; Thought, like an eagle soaring in his prime

Of strength, exulteth now, since zeal for truth's no crime.

II.

The crowning city beautiful appears,

Like a fair bride enrobed in rich attire,
Glorying in the gather'd wealth of years,

Outshining, in her grandeur, far-famed Tyre;
She has whate'er man's proudest hopes desire:
Her Merchant-Sons, since fortune favours pride,
To high companionship with kings aspire.
As if instinct with life her vessels glide,

Most glorious to behold, o'er her proud river's tide.

III.

Her daughters too, whose intellectual grace
Heightens their beauty, that they seem to be
Less of a mortal than celestial race,

Are rationally homaged, and more free
Than in the boasted days of chivalry;
When, closely pent within the castle walls,
Languish'd unseen the dames of high degree,
Till on some gaudy day the lovely thralls
Like costly idols shone adored in gorgeous halls.

IV.

Wisdom is in her halls. To none refused
Are wisdom's precious gifts, as heretofore,
When clerks their knowledge selfishly misused;
All may the tracts of science now explore :
Perish the vain monopoly of lore!
The gloom-dispelling radiance of the morn
Delighteth not the rising traveller more,

Than it doth glad my heart, that lofty scorn
Recoils from the repellent strength of wisdom lowly born.

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Oft are those artificial fountains dry,

That skill for grandeur labours to create;
But streams the mountain's natural founts supply,
Flow on for ever beautiful and great;

To give them birth, they need not toys of state:

Thus may the much-forced mind of high-born youth
Prove to the rearer's hand a plant ingrate :
While that which nature nourishes in sooth

But partial culture asks to reach the heights of truth.

VI.

Unlike the roll that in the heavens appeared,
(Wherein and eke without were written “woe
"And lamentation,") to the Seer revered,

Is the bright volume Wisdom shows us now,
Where joy and truth in brilliant colours glow.
Inquiry nerves the mind and quickens thought,

The source from which our purest pleasures flow. Bounds to research there are which spirits fraught With learning's stores would pass; in vain, their efforts end in nought.

VII.

The mind that thus its boundaries would pass
Is as a restless creature in its cage:
On unforbidden ground though much it has
Yet to acquire; still science may engage
Its fullest powers, or Niebuhr's* novel page!
Much to unlearn we have, and more to learn

As here we journey on to life's last stage,
Within the confines of our route; why yearn

For mysteries which to know e'en Seraphs vainly burn?

* The celebrated, indefatigable, and liberal German Historian of Rome.

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